Some economic empowerment groups in Kasipul have received support from the Kwame Otiende Foundation to enable their members to have more money in their pockets.
The groups got support from the foundation which runs a programme meant to empower special interest groups in Kasipul constituency.
Officials from the foundation visited Kakumu Group in Konyango clan which is one of the special interest groups.
It is made up of community members who raise money through a merry-go-round initiative and use the funds to take care of their needs.
Most of the time, they use the money to take care of funeral expenses and pay fees for their school-going children.
Their style of generating money has however not been sustainable and that’s what pushed them to reach the foundation for support.
Director of the foundation Kwame Otiende said the group asked for chairs, a public address system and tents which can be hired out to generate income.
Otiende gave chairs to the group when he visited them.
“We first deposited some funds to their account as a working capital. They will now use the materials the foundation has given them to generate more income to improve their economic muscle,” Otiende said.
The director together with some officials from the foundation has also visited the Oyugis retirees group which is made up of retired civil servants.
All members of the group are 65 years and above.
“We realized that most people become vulnerable when they grow old. The chairs and other supportive funds will help them undertake their businesses and earn income,” he added.
Other groups that have benefited from the foundation are the Kanyagwal Farmers Group in Central Kasipul which keeps poultry and practices beekeeping and the Pure Self-Help Group
Otiende donated to the group a centrifuge machine to enable them to process honey with ease.
The foundation gave the group over Sh70,000 to boost their bank account.
“One of the challenges they faced was how to produce good quality honey which can compete with ones at the market,” he said.
Pure Self Help Group in West Kamagak has more than 20 members who engage in the rearing of goats.
The foundation bought them a male goat to sire female goats.
Their challenge was that they lacked female goats. The group was being forced to take their female goats to Kisii to sire the animals.
Pure self-help group patron Joash Okoth said the farmers have been spending money on hiring a male goat and transporting the female one to Kisii. This reduced their profit.
They had to spend money t group keep the same goat breed.
“The farmers have agreed that once the goats start having kids, they will be given to other members for their benefit,” Okoth said.
Otiende said their objective is to help society.
He said he aims to empower residents of Kasipul with different economic empowerment programmes.
